"Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody."
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Orignally Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in Harlem, New York on April 16, 1947. The son of Ferdinand and Cora Lillian Alcindor, a police officer/ jazz musician and a department store worker, he was raised to be Roman Catholic. Born twelve pounds, eleven ounces and twenty-two inches long, even at birth he was large in size. By age 9, when Abdul-Jabbar first jump shot, he was already 5'8''. With tremendous talent and determination, he became the star player on the Power Memorial High School basketball team. During his high school basketball career, Abdul-Jabbar led his team to three consecutive New York City Catholic Championships, and scored a total of 2067 points. Also, gaining the attention of his peers as well as college scouts, he was chosen as an All American Player three times during his years in high school. Standing 7'2'' tall, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was was recruited by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). In his first varsity game, Kareem broke UCLA's record by scoring 56 points in the game. He played for their basketball team from 1965 to 1969. During the years of 1967-1969, Abdul-Jabbar helped his team to win three national basketball championships. Among other honors, he was awarded the title of the National Collegiate Atheletic Association's Most Outstanding Player. Ranked as one of the countrys top college basketball players, it was destined that he would eventually turn into a professional basketball player.
In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwuakee Bucks Professional basketball team. In his first season alone, he scored a total of two thousand points, and gained recognition as the NBA's Rookie of the Year. This was only the beginning. In 1971, he recieved his first championship ring when he lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship. Also, that year marked a time of self realization and spiritual rebirth. He converted from Roman Catholic to the Islamic faith and officially changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The name held just as much integrity and determination as the man behind it, meaning noble and most powerful servant.
In 1975, saying that the Bucks did not agree with his religious beliefs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers. While playing for the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar developed his signature moved, called the "sky hook", a form of the jump shop. His success continued as he won six more NBA championships and was named the league's MVP six times. Abdul-Jabbar was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the year and broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of scoring the most points before he retired from basketball in 1989 at age 42. On May 15, 1992, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. To this day, there are not many players who statistics even come close to those of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Since retiring from basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been keeping himself busy by coaching. In February of 2002, Abdul-Jabbar recieved the position of assisstant coach for the LA Clippers. From there, he moved on to work as an consultant for the Indiana Pacers, and then went on to sign as the head coach for the USBL Oklahoma Storm.
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwuakee Bucks Professional basketball team. In his first season alone, he scored a total of two thousand points, and gained recognition as the NBA's Rookie of the Year. This was only the beginning. In 1971, he recieved his first championship ring when he lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship. Also, that year marked a time of self realization and spiritual rebirth. He converted from Roman Catholic to the Islamic faith and officially changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The name held just as much integrity and determination as the man behind it, meaning noble and most powerful servant.
In 1975, saying that the Bucks did not agree with his religious beliefs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers. While playing for the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar developed his signature moved, called the "sky hook", a form of the jump shop. His success continued as he won six more NBA championships and was named the league's MVP six times. Abdul-Jabbar was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the year and broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of scoring the most points before he retired from basketball in 1989 at age 42. On May 15, 1992, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. To this day, there are not many players who statistics even come close to those of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Since retiring from basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been keeping himself busy by coaching. In February of 2002, Abdul-Jabbar recieved the position of assisstant coach for the LA Clippers. From there, he moved on to work as an consultant for the Indiana Pacers, and then went on to sign as the head coach for the USBL Oklahoma Storm.